Water-wheel.



F. TRUMP. I WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

12v VLNTOR.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY-(,

THE NORRIS Ps'rzns cm, wnsnuiwrou, a c,

FULLER TRUMP, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

wer

B-WHEEL.

Application filed May 2, 1908.

runners or wheels proper of which have cases with a plurality of gates opening around the periphery of the runner, the water. being introduced parallel with the wheel shaft and admitted to the runner through the gate openings at right angles to the wheel shaft. lleretofore, in water wheels of this class, the water, being introduced parallel with the shaft, would strike the plate of the wheel casing opposite the penstock inlet, causing the velocity of the current to be checked and ed dies to be formed, seriously impairing the efficiency of the current before it reaches the runner, and in actual practice it has been found that the undirected current will frequently press the runner in such manner as to cause the bearings to wear upon one side, thus forcing the runner against the wheel casing and further lessening the efliciency of the wheel.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difiiculties by providing means to give the current, which enters the penstock parallel with the shaft, a rotary movement in planes transverse tothe axis of the shaft, and thereby direct it uniformly to all the gate openings about the wheel casing, without checking or impairing the velocity of the current and avoiding the unequal wear upon the bearings.

ll ith these and other objects in View, my invention consists of the constructions and combinations hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specifications, Figure 1 is a view of a water wheel placed horizontally in an iron penstock, embodying my invention, the penstock being shown in section and the water wheel in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top or end view showing the scroll vanes, a part of the crown or inlet end plate being broken away to show the gates; and Fig. 3 is a sectior'ial view showing parts of the wheel case and runner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Serial No. 30/i39.

Like numerals represent the same parts in the several views.

in the drawings 1 represents a penstock having an inlet elbow 2 and a discharge elhow 3, said elbows being provided with suitable bearings and 5 to carry the wheel shaft 6 that extends through the penstock and elbows as shown. A. wheel proper or runner 7 is fixed to the shaft 6 and is provided with buckets 8. The wheel casing comprises two oppositely-disposed plates 9 and 10 secured at a fixed distance from each other by columns 11 and bolts 13, and plurality of gates 12 are arranged to swing upon the bolts between the plates 9 and 10 opening around the periphery of the wheel to admit the water to the buckets 8 of the wheel. A ring 141, having racks 15 fixed thereon and adapted to mesh with the segments 16 on the gates, and an additional rack 17 with pinion 18 meshing therewith, the pinion being fixed on a suitable rod 19, the rod having a hand.- wheel thereon (not shown), forms the means of operating the gates. Caps 11 cover the cogs of tne segments 16 and racks 15 to protect the same and hold the ring in place.

The plate 10, being the one nearest the penstock inlet, 1 form concave cone-shaped, as shown, with spiral ribs or vanes 20 thereon, so that the current which enters parallel to the shaft, when it reaches the plate, will, by reason of its concave cone-shape and the spiral ribs, be given a rotary movement in planes transverse to the axis of the wheel and be guided uniformly to all the gate openings in the wheel casing without checking its velocityand avoiding any counter currents or undue strains upon one side of the wheel.

t will also be seen that I have arranged the gate opening mechanism at or near the discharge plate of the wheel, so that the water will not be obstructed in its flow to the wheel. Heretofore the gate-operating mechanisms have been arranged at or near the inlet plate of the casing and have formed an obstruction to the current.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A water wheel and a penstock therefor admitting the water parallel with the axis of the wheel, said wheel comprising a runner, a

driving shaft and a casing for the runner adapted to inclose and protect the same, said casing having a lurality of gate openings around the perip iery of the runner and means on said casing independent of the penstock to give a rotary movement to the Water in planes transverse to the axis of the wheel, substantially as described.

2. A water Wheel and a penstock therefor admitting the water longitudinally with the axis of the wheel, said wheel comprising a runner, a driving shaft and a casing for the runner adapted to inclosc and protect the same, said casing having a plurality of gates opening about the periphery of the runner and. means imposed on said casing away from the penstock to guide and direct the water uniformly to each of said gates before it reaches the gates, substantially as described.

3. A water wheel and a penstock therefor having inlet and discharge openings, the inlet opening admitting the water longitudinally with the axis of the wheel, said water wheel comprising a runner and a casing therefor having oppositely-disposed plates with a plurality of oscillating gates arranged to open around the periphery of the runner, the plate nearest the inlet of the penstock having spiral ribs or vanes thereon, substantially as described.

4. A Water wheel and a penstock therefor having inlet and discharge openings, the inlet opening admitting the Water parallel with the axis of the wheel, said Water wheel comprising a runner and a casing therefor having oppositely-disposed plates with a plurality of gates arranged to open around the eriphery of the runner, the plate nearest t 1e penstock inlet being concave cone-shaped with having inlet and discharge openings, the in- A let opening admitting water parallel to the axis of the Wheel, said water wheel compris ing a runner and a casing therefor having oppositely-disposed plates with a plurality of gates to open around the periphery of the runner, operatin mechanism for the gates arranged at or near the discharge plate of the wheel, and spiral ribs or vanes on the plate nearest the inlet of the penstock, substan tially as described. 7

6. A water wheel and a penstock therefor having inlet and discharge openings, the in-. let opening admitting water parallel to the axis of the wheel, said water wheel comprising a runner and a casing therefor having oppositely-disposed plates with a plurality of gates to open at intervals around the periphery of the runner, gate operating mechanism arranged at or near the discharge plate of the wheel, and the plate nearest the inlet of the penstock being concave cone-shaped with spiral ribs or vanes thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FULLER TRUMP. 

